Environment

Policies, social realities may be behind water, air disasters

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By COURTNEY BOURGOIN
Capital News Service
LANSING — It started with a blame game among government officials. Now, many people want to know whether the Flint water crisis was fueled by racism and classism. And according to environmental justice experts, these social drivers of environmental disasters are more than a Flint problem. They’re Michigan’s reality. While Flint suffered the consequences of corroding pipes and lead poisoning, Detroit residents are concerned about severe air quality issues in the city.

Agriculture

New maps show possible routes for nuclear waste transport

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By COURTNEY BOURGOIN
Capital News Service
LANSING — Anti-nuclear groups are identifying the types of transportation needed to haul nuclear waste across the Great Lakes region if a national waste storage site in Nevada wins federal approval. They are adding state-specific details to U.S. Department of Energy maps to show where barges could move waste across Lake Michigan and where trucks and trains could move it across the region. Beyond Nuclear and Nuclear Information and Resource Service said they wanted to localize a national policy by highlighting truck, rail and water routes necessary to move nuclear waste under a proposed storage policy. For the Great Lakes region, the two anti-nuclear organizations noted multiple places that railways can’t reach and where nuclear waste would instead have to travel across Lake Michigan. Nationwide, the material would end up at a proposed site at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

Energy

New study evaluates fracking in Michigan

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By COURTNEY BOURGOIN
Capital News Service
LANSING — A new report breaks down what’s up with fracking in Michigan. A University of Michigan study addresses policy options for high-volume fracturing—underground injections of at least 100,000 gallons of chemicals, sand and water to extract natural gas. The multi-million dollar question is if gas prices go, up will fracking increase? Researchers at the U-M Graham Sustainability Institute analyzed a variety of policy options, and experts addressed three areas of policy concern: chemical disclosure, public input and water protection. They explored options like requiring the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to respond to public comments about state land lease proposals for hydraulic fracturing.

Environment

State fights illegal trafficking in bear parts

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By COURTNEY BOURGOIN
Capital News Service
LANSING — Government agencies and advocacy organizations are working to make sure the sun sets on Michigan bear poaching. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) arrested four people in early August for illegally purchasing and selling black bear parts. And the House Natural Resources Committee has passed a set of bills that call for stricter poaching penalties. The measures already won Senate approval and await action by the full House. Overseas demand for organs motivates poachers to kill the animals through unlawful methods, whether by hunting off-season or exceeding legal limits, DNR officials said.